Improvement in circuit-breakers for electric railway-signals



\ certain normal position.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID ROUSSEAU, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND WHJLIAM C. SMITH, OF SAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CIRCUIT-BREAKERS FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAY-SIGNALS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N o. 144,568, dated November 11,1873; application filed` February 5, 1873. i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID ROUSSEAU, of

the city and county of New York, in the State magnetic inuence of passing engines or trains,-

Without bodily contact of such engines or trains With such apparatus. My invention consists in arranging the armature of such circuit opening or breaking apparatus, or a magnetic needle on the same apparatus, Within such proximity-to the track that the metal of the engine or train, or metallic rods' or bars specially applied thereto, Will magnetically at'ect such armature or needle and cause it to be deflected from its normal position While the.

train or engine passes the apparatus, the deflection causing the desired interruption or establishment of electric currents whereby the audible or visible signal Will be affected in the desired manner.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved ap paratus; Fig. 2, a top View of the same and Fig. 3, a vertical section of the same on the line() C, Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts of the iigures.

The letter A represents a magnetic needle pivoted at or near its middle by a pin, a., in a suitable support, B, and so connected with a suitable tension spring, b, as to be held by said spring, when not otherwise aiected, in a In this position, which is indicated by full lines in Fig. 2, the needle A will be out of contact With certain metallic springs d, which are connected with one wire of the electric apparatus, While the pin a, on which the needle is pivoted, is connected with the other Wire of the same. The

apparatus containing the device described is on a post, C, or other suitable frame or standard supported near the track of therailroad, with the needle facing the said track. When the train or engine passes the apparatus the the signal apparat-us for announcing the approach or departure of the train.

The apparatus herein described is, of course, but one illustration of my invention, and may be materially varied Without departing from the spirit of the invention. Thus, for example, I may so unite this apparatus with a signal that the' signal Will be displayed or operated by the breaking of the electric circuit, in Which case the needle in its normal position will be in contact with the `springs d or other equivalents, and when not in such normal position will be brought out ot contact therewith, and thereby interrupt theelectric circuit and operate the signal. y, In place of the needle A, y

I may obtain the same result by the use o f an armature, which will be deflected and affected in similar manner by passing trains.

I may, if desired, apply magnets rigidly to the engine or cars of the train to a'ect the i armature or needle, or the ordinary metallic projections or devices on such engine or train may suliice to properly aect the needle or armature. I therefore do not confine myself to any special arrangement of parts.

I claim as my invention?- l. The circuit opening or closing apparatus placed in proximity to a railway-track, to be actuated magnetically by aV passing train or engine without bodily contact therewith', as specied.

2. The needle A arranged, in combination with the springs b and d, to be operated by a passing engine or train Without contact, as set forth.

DAVID ROUSSEAU. Witnesses:

A. V. BRrEsEN, W. C. SMITH. 

